What is the missing exponent that would make this equation true?

k^5 ⋅ k^2/k6x = (k^2)^−2

1 answer

To solve the equation \( \frac{k^5 \cdot k^2}{k^{6x}} = (k^2)^{-2} \), we first simplify both sides.

Starting with the left-hand side:

\[ \frac{k^5 \cdot k^2}{k^{6x}} = \frac{k^{5 + 2}}{k^{6x}} = \frac{k^7}{k^{6x}} = k^{7 - 6x} \]

Now, for the right-hand side:

\[ (k^2)^{-2} = k^{2 \cdot (-2)} = k^{-4} \]

Now the equation is:

\[ k^{7 - 6x} = k^{-4} \]

Since the bases are the same, we can set the exponents equal to each other:

\[ 7 - 6x = -4 \]

Now, we solve for \( x \):

  1. Subtract 7 from both sides:

\[ -6x = -4 - 7 \] \[ -6x = -11 \]

  1. Divide by -6:

\[ x = \frac{11}{6} \]

Therefore, the missing exponent \( x \) that would make the equation true is

\[ \boxed{\frac{11}{6}} \]